I love New York, but Cape May stole my heart

Last Updated on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 04:19 pm Written by Opinion Tuesday, August 14, 2012 01:00 am

To the editor:

As a former New Yorker, I’m inclined to return periodically to New York. However, it’s progressively more difficult to contend with the masses, the traffic, the cost and the stress. I experience excitement and joy as I return to Cape May. Unlike the semi-bedlam I’ve just been through it all slows down. We go from a humdrum bustle to something that purrs like a kitten.

Ocean City, Avalon, Cape May Court House, Stone Harbor and Cape May, I can feel the pressure coming off. The traffic has lessened, the boats are in sight and I can look forward to the culture of Cape May proper once again: the people, the restaurants, Star of the Sea, and the beautiful beach.

To inject politics here would lessen the feeling. Yet, as a political junkie I feel Cape May and Lower Township even has quality politicians. Mayor Ed Mahaney and Mayor Michael Beck exude quality as opposed to their counterparts in surrounding counties. We even have a dentist as a state senator who never seems to forget anyone or their problems.

As for culture, we have the PAC Center and the new Cape May Convention Center, good jazz and the arts.

All I can say is God bless Cape May and keep it functioning in a good way. It seems to be good enough for Oprah Winfrey and Peter Nero and we look forward to all the coming events of 2012-13. I love New York, but it’s too far away from Cape May. Give me the tranquility of Sunset Beach, the point and its three homey newspapers.

I’ve seen semi-paradise in the Pacific and Caribbean, but for now I’ll take Cape May.

W.J. Murphy

Cape May